President Marcos and Milken Institute fellow Steven Ciobo were able to make light of a setback in the former's schedule as he arrived late for a commitment at the think tank's 10th Asian Summit in Singapore on Wednesday, Sept. 13.

Marcos' 30-minute talk was supposed to start at 3:30 p.m. but did not start until at least 31 minutes later.

As he started his speech, the President could be heard catching his breath as he apologized for arriving late. He explained that this was because of issues with his flight and luggage.

"I apologize for being quite so late as we have just come from Manila and mix-ups with luggage and such," he said.

"I did not think it would be appropriate to come in my shorts, so I thought I should wait for my suit," he quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.

After his speech, Ciobo, who served as the talk's moderator, got on with the joke and thanked Marcos for waiting for his suit before coming to the event.

"Can I say as a moderator that I'm greatly relieved you decided to wait for your suit because otherwise, the pressure would have been on me to— I'm not sure, remove my trousers or something," the former Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Investment said.

"I'm not sure what I would have had to do to make you feel comfortable, but we appreciate you taking the time to be with us today," he added.

Despite this bump on the road, President Marcos thanked the Milken Institute for inviting him to speak at the 10th Asian Summit, citing its importance for discussing pressing issues.

"As a forum that attracts world leaders, CEOs, top executives, thought leaders, and influencers, we see this summit as an important platform for discussing and finding innovative solutions to the most critical economic, social, technological issues, even geopolitical issues that affect Asia-Pacific, Indo-Pacific, and regions beyond," he said.

"This gathering of minds is a testament to our shared commitment to addressing the most pressing challenges of our time, and I am grateful for the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions that can shape our shared future," he added.

Marcos' working visit to Singapore coincided with his 66th birthday on Sept. 13. According to Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, the President came with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual. Some business leaders were also present.